The Jefferson City Council will hear two presentations on the Parks and Recreation Commission's multipurpose building project tonight.
The council, which will meet at 6 p.m. at City Hall, will hear from Donna Deetz, of the Eastside Business Association, on the project, and Randy Allen, president and CEO of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce, is expected to make a presentation concerning a potential partnership between the city, the Parks and Recreation Commission and Special Olympics Missouri.
Currently, department staff are working with the chamber on a proposal to combine the multipurpose building with the Training for Life Campus project, which is a Special Olympics Missouri project. The chamber also has been discussing the proposal with the Jefferson City Public Schools to have the facility on 20 acres of the school district's land on Missouri 179 and Mission Drive.
The commission has been working toward construction of a multipurpose building, but has struggled with the project's budget. The department has identified roughly $5 million for the facility, but commission members have indicated a desire for a facility that likely would cost closer to $8 million. The commission has previously identified Riverside Park, on the city's east side, as the location for a multipurpose building.
Mayor Eric Struemph also is expected to give an update on the city's budget process, which has been delayed while officials await the outcome of state issues.
The city's budget process has traditionally started in late July, but the city opted to hold off this year while waiting for the results of the Aug. 5 primary, where the transportation sales tax failed, and the September veto session.
At a finance committee meeting earlier this month, it was indicated the mayor planned on holding off on presenting his draft budget until after the veto session, which begins Sept. 10.
But a special council meeting has been scheduled for Monday, and Struemph is expected to present his draft budget then.
The council also will see the introduction of a bill to create a transit advisory committee, after two council committees approved the draft ordinance.
The ordinance would create a public transit advisory committee, an idea that was first brought to the council by the Citizens for JeffTran group in spring 2013. According to the proposed ordinance, the committee would consist of seven members: one from the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce, one who regularly uses public transit, one who is employed by a public or private school or by a not-for-profit organization, and four members of the general public.
The council would vote on the bill at its Sept. 15 meeting.
The council also is expected to go into closed session for personnel.